Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said in Beijing Tuesday that the World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates the effective measures that China has taken in handling the atypical pneumonia crisis that broke out in China's southern Guangdong province several months ago.
Kong said a 2-member WHO delegation and several specialists had visited China to exchange information at the end of February and Zhang Wenkang, the Chinese Minister of Health, had received the delegation.
During the meeting, Kong said, China briefed the delegation on the disease in Guangdong and praised the WHO's commitment to cooperate with China on the prevention and control of the disease.
Zhang also expressed China's willingness to actively cooperate with the WHO, Kong said.
Kong said that several days ago, the WHO Beijing representative had informed Zhang of several recent cases of atypical pneumonia that had occurred in several countries and regions. "The WHO highly appreciates China's effective handling of the atypical pneumonia", Kong said.
He said the WHO had expressed its desire to join hands with China in the prevention and control of the disease.
According to Kong, the atypical pneumonia that broke out in Guangdong province last November is now under control.
"The disease is now effectively under control and the patients have recovered gradually and are resuming their normal lives", Kong said.
(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2003)
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